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Québec couples to get 3 IVF cycles funded. Most Ontarians get none.
TORONTO, April 24 /CNW/ - The Québec Charest government announced this
week what many Ontarians have been wanting for years - full funding for 3 IVF
cycles. The new funding announcement demonstrates how Charest's government is
not only following through on, but exceeding their election promise and
maintains Québec's leadership in Canada for providing support for couples
facing fertility challenges.
When the Ontario McGuinty government was re-elected in 2007, they
promised to take a closer look at all issues related to fertility treatments
to make it both easier and more affordable. In July 2008, they established an
Expert Panel on Infertility and Adoption to begin this process. The Panels'
recommendations are expected to be announced in June 2009.
"This is encouraging news for Quebecers," says Dr. Edward Hughes,
specialist at ONE Fertility and Professor of Obs Gyn at McMaster University.
"The Ontario Government's expert panel is also looking at the issue and I hope
will finally recommend adequate funding for IVF. Infertility is a real medical
problem and for some women and men, IVF is their only effective and
appropriate choice. I have seen hundreds of couples over the years, unable to
make that choice because they simply can't afford to pay."
In fact, at least one in six couples will have difficulty conceiving and
10 per cent of normally fertile couples won't conceive with their first
attempt. In Canada alone, over 350,000 couples are faced with the prospect of
never giving birth to a child.
"We are thrilled that Québec continues to move in the right direction in
supporting couples facing fertility challenges," says Jocelyn Smith, President
of the Infertility Awareness Association of Canada. "This is precisely the
type of action we have been advocating for years and we hope that Ontario and
other provinces quickly follow suit."
To learn more about the situation in Ontario, talk to Dr. Edward Hughes
and Jocelyn Smith.

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For further information: or to set up an interview, please contact:
Marissa Bushe, Environics Communications, (416) 969-2764,
mbushe@environicspr.com